In advance of my testimony before the Kentucky House Judiciary Committee in support of HB 203, which would repeal Kentucky’s death penalty, I was interviewed by the Kentucky Public News Service. The reporter, Greg Stotelmyer, highlighted the many reasons that make the death penalty more expensive than life without parole and the importance of fiscal responsibility when the state is currently grappling with budgetary issues. However, there are other reasons to reconsider the death penalty. Stotelmyer wrote,

Hyden says when conservatives’ distrust of government is mixed with the issues stirred by the death penalty, it doesn’t make sense for conservatives to support lethal injection.

“There’s the risk of killing an innocent person, so it’s pro-life,” he points out. “It costs more than life without parole, so it’s not fiscally responsible. But then, you find that it doesn’t keep the public safe, and it’s actually pretty harmful on murder victims’ friends and family members.”

Abolitionists are confident this year’s attempt to repeal the death penalty, House Bill 203, has a chance to make it out of committee.

Hyden, who plans to testify, says it takes time to convince people to change their minds, but he believes it’s possible.